Texas - Part 3

Saturday morning I woke up and went with my sister to the LDS temple in Dallas. (Thanks Abby, for watching all the kiddos for me so I could go.) My parents work there every Saturday morning so I usually try to go when I am in town. I love to be there with my family but this Saturday was different because I really needed the calmness of the temple this week. There are some major changes coming in my life (no, I am not pregnant) and I need lots of guidance and inspiration.

For those who aren't familiar with LDS temples, let me explain a few things.  Temples are places of refuge from the world and as members of the Church of Jesus Christ we hold them very sacred. Because of that only worthy member are able to enter the temple. While there, we make promises to obey God's commandments, serve, stand as a witness of Him and so much, much more.  In the temple people speak softly and kindly, no one is in a rush. When life gets crazy and exhausting this is the place I want to go. At least for the few hours that I am there I am able to think about things other than my crazy life. It helps to reset my focus and my perspective. It always reminds me that I am a daughter of God and that my family is the most important thing.  I am grateful for a place to go and feel close to my Heavenly Father and ponder things in my life like my family and friends. This is truly the closest thing to heaven on earth.

I loved being there with my sister and then seeing my parents. I had a neat time there that day. After the temple it is tradition that we get lunch at a yummy restaurant. There is the most amazing Mexican restaurant there in Dallas, it is always my first choice. Thankfully, my family let me have my way. I was not disappointed one bit, YUMMY! My mouth is salivating as I write.

My friends had left to go back to Vegas. I was so bummed about that. I can't wait to have them in Texas permanently. We had a big Easter celebration planned with my entire family. All my cousins and their kids. We rode horses and then went out to the land where we had another egg hunt and dinner. So good to see everyone.

Peyton is leading the horse. She is Emma's second cousin. Her dad Brian (my cousin) is the guy in the other pictures.

Brian and Kate.

Abby was a little nervous. I was proud of her for getting on the horses. It will most likely be her last time too since she broke out in hives immediately after she got off the horse. She is allergic to cats, dogs and now horses.

All of us watching from the side lines. Rachel, Aunt Betty, Isabelle,Tiffany, and Britta.

He looks happy,uhh? 

Gavin and Jesse-cousins.

I was so excited to meet this little guy, Hudson.  He belongs to my cousin Rachel.  She had no idea he had down- syndrome until he was born. He is such a special little guy. I was smitten with him, instantly.

And they are off!

This Kate with her cousin Kate. It's actually her 2nd cousin. Aren't they adorable? 

I have the cutest aunts ever, Betty and Ann.

This is my cousin, Rachel's little girl. Her name is Claire or Chunky love.

Alli and Emma showing their eggs.

Ethan, Carson, and Houston

We left Sunday morning, Easter Sunday. We stopped overnight at the best hotel ever in Eureka, Missouri. The kids loved playing in their arcade area, the pool was sweet, and I loved the hot tub.  They had a "kids eat breakfast free with an adult" deal so we took advantage. They definitively got the short end of the stick there. They were great and very accommodating.

In the morning before we left Eureka.

Texas - Part 2 Easter

 While we were in Texas there was a bad tornado in Arlington, which is 45 away. Denton had a Tornado warning so we were glued to the TV watching the weather. Heather and Brian were starting to rethink living somewhere that had such bad storms. The kids didn't mind at all.

The Houts were finally able to find a home in Ft. Worth- only 45 min away from my parents.

 One day we went to the Ft. Worth Zoo, which is awesome. The weather was perfect. Ethan was at Carson's house so he didn't get to come with us.

 

I love birds, this was the highlight for me.

 It was great to spend Easter there. Any chance to be home for a holiday, I take. Lance was a good sport to not make a big deal about us being gone. There were several families from church that invited him over for Easter dinner. He was taken care of.

We had a couple different Egg hunts, first it was just my family and the Houts. Then the next day we had another one with my cousins and their families.

Helping grandma fill the eggs.

 As always we went out to the land and played.  There is a small lake out there and the kids decided to play in it. It was mostly mud. What a mess. They played in it for close to 6 hours.

Abby and Cameron having a mud fight. Abby gets down right dirty. She is not a girly-girl when it comes to things like this. She will do whatever it takes to WIN.

Why on earth is it so fun to shoot a gun? My brother-in-law, Scotty J has several guns. His dream is to open a shooting range one day. I hope he does. He brought out all his guns and we had some fun.

This was by far the highlight for the kids-THE MUD. We didn't plan it, it just happened. The kids had planned to go fishing out at the land. It was a hot day and the kids didn't mind not having their swim suits. We improvised. They didn't seem to mind one bit. Kate was the only one a little hesitant.

I am gritting my teeth right now. How a mother could think this is so cute is beyond me. 

After Gavin swam he got his clothes on and then went to Grandma and said "I wanna snuggle."

LOVE Scotty J

My mom is so dang cute.

Uncle Scotty  make his berry cobbler. We are so lucky to have him around.

This plane came out of now where swooping by super low and scared us half to death. Once we realized he was saying hello and do a trick for us we liked it. 

My brother Paul and lots of kids taking a ride.

 Friday night my mom had an egg hunt for the kids. She had a ton of eggs and the kids found them all.

One of my favorite things out there is to sit and watch the sunset. They are amazing. It is so peaceful.